| Don Barber is everywhere in the spread-out, 7-county SD-51 these days, as he takes his energetic grassroots campaign and new ideas straight to the people. I went to Norwich, NY earlier this week to support Congressman Mike Arcuri... and, although Norwich itself is not in SD-51, some of the northern portion of Chenango County is-- and Norwich is the County seat, so, there was Don Barber and supporters, meeting and greeting.
But, Don's campaign is about much more than just meeting people and listening to their concerns. He is also generating ideas for bringing change to NYS government. Otsego and Chenango Counties, like much of the central part of the state, have seen a lot of activity recently from mining companies that are interested in buying mineral rights on rural properties, and then drilling and hydrofracking looking for natural gas. Don called for more environmental impact assessment in the campaign, and Governor Paterson listened and asked the DEC to conduct an assessment and publish a Generic Environmental Impact Statement. That's an excellent first step.... but, then what? Shall we just leave the mining companies to the kind of boom-and-bust economic wave that typically follows natural resource exploitation?
Don has a much better idea-- one that impresses on me again why we need this kind of a leader in the NYS Senate. Check this out... |
After addressing an Otsego County Board meeting where he reaffirmed his commitment to a responsible gas drilling policy, Don Barber (D-Caroline) explained how he would invest gas drilling royalties to build a sustainable upstate economy. Speaking outside the Otsego County office in Cooperstown yesterday, Barber laid out a plan that would support long-term economic development in the 51st district.
"We all hope for successful gas discovery and extraction. Currently, the bulk of the royalties go to the gas companies and a portion to the landowners who deserve this benefit, and also to the state of New York. But local governments, which will be heavily impacted by the gas drilling process, must get a long-term benefit from this resource."
Upstate counties deserve a share of the royalties, Barber contends. "I propose that the state's royalties be put in a dedicated fund for counties where the natural gas is produced. A significant percentage of all gas royalties going into this fund would be used for community development projects such as schools, healthcare facilities and modernizing local infrastructure that would support family farms and small businesses. That way we boost the economy and benefit our communities over a long period of time."
Now, this is a real show of long-term leadership. But, I was even more impressed when I learned where the idea came from-- because it told me that Don's approach to governing would include taking the best of what has worked elsewhere, and instituting it here in NY:
Barber pointed to the example of Wyoming's Permanent Mineral Trust Fund, which mandates that a percentage of all taxes collected from coal, oil and gas companies go into a permanent fund for the welfare of future generations. Today, that fund has accumulated $3 billion and earns $100 million in interest every year.
"A progressive Republican governor named Stan Hathaway came up with this idea after taking a look at what coal mining had done to the people in West Virginia. The coal companies kept the profits, the state capital kept the royalties, and the local economies deteriorated. Marcellus Shale gas is a finite resource. Let's get long-term benefit out of it for ourselves and future generations," Barber said.
Now, these are just quotes from the campaign's PR, so, you might be justified in wondering to what extent Don has already shown a commitment to rebuilding the upstate economy for future generations. That is where those of us who have watched him over the years can testify. Don farms-- with horses which run on locally-produced fuel. He runs a small construction company, which has been honored as livable-wage employer of the year in very labor-conscious Tompkins County. In public service, he has served on both the County Environmental Management Council and the Tompkins Area Development Corporation (IDA). And, the Town of Caroline, where he is Town Supervisor, has a plan in place and is moving ahead to implement it and become energy independent. Ideas, follow-through, accomplishment. Help us to get Don into the Senate, where he can work for all of NYS!
Don's ActBlue page |
